ALEXANDRIA, Minn. -- An ex-boyfriend of state Rep. Mary Franson, R-Alexandria, filed a defamation lawsuit against her Tuesday.

Eric Harpel, chairman of the McLeod County Republican Party, claimed his reputation was ruined by false statements Franson made while filing a harassment restraining order against him in 2012.

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Franson, who represents District 8B, filed an answer to the lawsuit, also on Tuesday, denying all of Harpel’s allegations and asking Judge David Battey to dismiss the case.

When contacted by the Echo Press of Alexandria, Franson sent the following statement:

“Given the fact that Mr. Harpel and I ended our relationship years ago, my children and I deserve to live free of the anxiety Mr. Harpel brings into our lives.

“It should be noted that I’m not the only person Mr. Harpel has tried to intimidate through the court system,” Franson added. “In February, a judge dismissed a lawsuit Mr. Harpel had filed in September against a retired woman in McLeod County. I’m optimistic we’ll have a similar result in this case.”

Franson filed the restraining order in May 2012 and dismissed it a couple of months later with the understanding that the matter would be resolved outside the courtroom.

The order alleged that Harpel was stalking her in person and online. Franson claimed that he sent her lewd emails, was spying on her and was preying on her daughter.

Harpel filed the defamation suit in Douglas County District Court four days before the House District 8B endorsing convention this Saturday in Henning.

The lawsuit claims that Franson knew her statements against him were false. It contains four counts, each alleging damages of at least $50,000.

In addition to defamation, he accused Franson of hacking into his computer and removing more than 50 stored communications; breach of contract for not paying back money he allegedly borrowed to her; and promissory estoppel for not paying back a loan that he claims she promised to repay.

Al Edenloff is the news and opinion page editor for the Echo Press. He was born in Alexandria and lived most of his childhood in Parkers Prairie. He graduated with honors from Moorhead State University with a degree in mass communications, print journalism. He interned at the Echo Press in the summer of 1983 and was hired a year later as a sports reporter. He also worked as a news reporter/photographer. Al is a four-time winner of the Minnesota Newspaper Association's Herman Roe Award, which honors excellence in editorial writing.